UPSC Prelims 2022 · GS Paper I
Question 39: Science and Technology
In the context of vaccines manufactured to prevent COVID-19 pandemic, consider the following statements :
- 1.The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield using mRNA platform.
- 2.Sputnik V vaccine is manufactured using vector based platform.
- 3.COVAXIN is an inactivated pathogen based vaccine.
Which of the statements given above are correct ?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Covishield is the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine made by the Serum Institute of India; it uses a chimpanzee adenovirus vector, not mRNA. Sputnik V also uses adenovirus vectors. Covaxin, from Bharat Biotech, is made from an inactivated whole virus. So statements 2 and 3 are correct.
- 1. Covishield uses a viral vector platform, not mRNA.
- 2. Sputnik V is built on adenovirus vectors.
- 3. Covaxin uses inactivated whole virus.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a), (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: Covishield uses a viral vector platform, not mRNA.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 3.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. Covishield is not an mRNA vaccine.
- (b) Correct. Sputnik V is vector-based and Covaxin is inactivated.
- (c) Wrong. Statement 1 is false.
- (d) Wrong. Statement 1 is false.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2022, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.